5. House of the Blackheads

 (Latvian: Melngalvju nams, German: Schwarzhäupterhaus) is a building situated in the old town of  Riga, Latvia.

The House of the Blackheads, originally called the New House, was built in 1334.

It was set up as a meeting and party venue for various Riga public organisations.

 In the 17th century it was occupied only by the foreign, mostly German, traders — the Blackheads' society. One of their patrons was St. Maurice, the leader of the Roman Legion, who was executed and died for the Catholicism. Thus a black head became the society's symbol and was portrayed in their coat of arms.

Due to their exceptional status, the Blackheads played an important role in the society life and traditions; many VIPs of that time (including Russian tsars) took part in events organized by the Blackheads. As a German merchant club the Brotherhood of Blackheads existed in Riga from about 1334 until 1939. Towards the end of the 14th century, the guilds uniting Riga’s merchants and craftsmen were joined by a brotherhood of  banquet caterers to upper classes which quite significantly called themselves Blackheads. Its members included young and unmarried merchants of foreign, mostly German descent. When traveling and supplying exotic goods from overseas, they managed to protect their ships and caravans from pirates and robbers. The Blackheads chose St. Maurice as their patron saint, who traditionally was depicted as a black soldier in knight’s armor. In  The 17th century merchant organization, the Brotherhood of the Blackheads, became the sole tenant of the House of the Blackheads

It has been reconstructed several times from 1522, when stones where set next to the doors, to the late-19th century, when lion figures where set above the front doors and St. George's figure appeared in the annex.

The House of the Blackheads, which is regarded as the most beautiful building in Riga, just like the Town Hall were destroyed in the World War II. After the war, there was great interest on the House of the Blackheads and several projects for its reconstruction were drafted.

The Brotherhood of Blackheads :”If I am destined to ruination, I will be rebuilt by you!”

The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999.

A number of projects were worked out in post-war years to rebuild the House of the Blackheads and later archaeological excavations were carried out at the site. In 1991 St. Peter's Church hosted a memorial exhibition for the House of the Blackheads and the society. In 1992 archaeological excavations began here and in 1995 a special book on the history of the House of the Blackheads and the society was published. This gave rise to the process of rebuilding of the house which finished in 1999.

The job got under way in 1995, and since 1999, Riga again takes pride in the reborn edifice which has become brilliant testimony of  Rigans’ affection and craftsmanship.

The prophecy that was once written on the building’s doors: “If I am destined to ruination, I will be rebuilt by you!” has come true!

Quest:

1.     The Blackheads House. 

Opposite the Town Hall there is the Blackheads House. They were the German merchants whose patron was Saint Mauris.

You can see him on the right of the main entrance. Saint Mauris lived in Northern Africa, and that is why the merchants got this nickname – the Blackheads.

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